Solicitor Apprenticeship

CILEx Law School delivers this programme in partnership with City Law School, University of London, and Northumbria University. Apprentices travel once a month to London for teaching sessions at City or once a fortnight to Newcastle in their first year, followed by once a month in all other years for teaching sessions at Northumbria.

Who is this apprenticeship for

This apprenticeship is suitable for:

Bright school leavers with a minimum of three A-levels at grade B or above who have the maturity to study law and possess good written English, and who have the attributes to be considered worthy of long-term investment at the point of recruitment

Paralegals or other current employees who have been identified as having the potential for development

At a glance

Incorporates a degree awarded by City, University of London or Northumbria University after four years

Candidates will receive an LLB in Legal Practice (accredited by City Law School) or an LLB (Hons) (accredited by Northumbria University) at the end of their fourth year and qualification as a solicitor

The delivery of the programme will depend on whether the apprentice is enrolled with City, University of London or Northumbria University.

Induction with City Law School or Northumbria Law School in September of the first year: overview of subjects to be studied, how to combine working as an apprentice with part-time distance learning, study skills required for higher education

Apart from exams taken towards the law degree, there are the following final assessments set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA):

Part 1 – SQE1

Functioning Legal Knowledge Tests conducted by an independent assessment organisation, Kaplan. Assessment will take place in timed conditions in assessment centres, away from the workplace. Work-based assessment against apprentice standard and competence statement to be assessed and certified by City, Northumbria and the employer. Both assessments must be successfully completed before the apprentice can take Part 2.

Part 2 – SQE2

A Standardised Practical Legal Examination conducted by an independent assessment organisation, Kaplan. Assessment will take place in timed conditions in assessment centres, away from the workplace. This assessment must be taken within the last six months of the apprenticeship and are due to include:

No progression – the apprentice will be a solicitor on successful completion.

Studying at City Law School

The degree incorporated within the apprenticeship will be awarded by City, University of London and the course delivery will be done by City Law School. City Law School, incorporating the former Inns of Court School of Law, was the first University Law School in London to educate students and practitioners at every stage of legal education. Founded in 1894, the university is one of the top 15 in the UK for graduate employment. It aims to develop the professional, dynamic, highly motivated, and “practice-ready” lawyers of the future. City University became part of the University of London in September 2016.

Studying at Northumbria University

The degree incorporated within the apprenticeship will be awarded by Northumbria University and the course delivery will be done by Northumbria University. Northumbria’s £70 million state-of-the-art law school, in Newcastle city centre, provides an outstanding learning environment with professional facilities including a real courtroom, onsite law library, legal skills hub and a law clinic. Newcastle upon Tyne is regularly voted the best place in the UK for students to live and study.

Costs and funding

The minimum wage for an apprentice is £3.90/hour (April 2019), but employers in the legal services sector will usually pay significantly more than that. See the information below for funding and allocation of the levy relating to this apprenticeship.

Offered by Northumbria and City, University of London: £27,000 from levy account spread over six years. Plus for learners at City, University of London, a payment of £3,000 spread over six years, which cannot come from the levy.